Goroka
Encyclopedia
Goroka is the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea
. It is a town of approximately 19,000 people (2000), 1600m above sea level. It has an airport (in the centre of town) and is on the "Highlands Highway
", about 285 km from Lae
in Morobe province
and 90 km from the nearby town of Kainantu
also in the Eastern Highlands. Other nearby towns include Kundiawa
in Simbu Province
and Mount Hagen
in Western Highlands Province. It has a mild climate, known as a "perpetual Spring".
It is the home of several national institutions; CRMF Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship, the PNG Institute of Medical Research, the National Film Institute, the Melanesian Institute, the Raun Raun Theatre Company and the University of Goroka
. Several NGOs also have presences there, including Oxfam
and Save the Children
. The town's single largest hotel is the Bird of Paradise, owned by the Coral Seas Hotels chain. Goroka is also the home of the Asaro Mudmen
.
Coffee is a common cash crop in the area; smaller industries include trout farms, pigs, bee keeping and food gardens (broccoli, kau kau or sweet potato, carrots, ginger and peanuts are examples of produce that grow well here; nearby Bena Bena is known for its pineapples).
The renowned Goroka Show
is a three day event that takes place annually around the time of the country's Independence Day (September 16). The Goroka Show is the oldest show in Papua New Guinea, over 50 years of "keeping the spirit alive".
Goroka is the birthplace of Premier of Tasmania Lara Giddings
and rugby league
players Stanley Gene
and James Segeyaro
.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. It is a town of approximately 19,000 people (2000), 1600m above sea level. It has an airport (in the centre of town) and is on the "Highlands Highway
Highlands Highway
The Highlands Highway, sometimes known as the Okuk Highway, is the main land highway in Papua New Guinea. It connects several major cities and is vital for the movement of people and goods between the populous Highlands region and the coast....
", about 285 km from Lae
Lae
Lae, the capital of Morobe Province, is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located at the start of the Highlands Highway which is the main land transport corridor from the Highlands region to the coast...
in Morobe province
Morobe
Morobe may refer to several places in Papua New Guinea:*Morobe Province*Morobe, Papua New Guinea*Morobe Goldfield *Morobe Bay...
and 90 km from the nearby town of Kainantu
Kainantu
Kainantu is a town in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. It had some historical significance as an airstrip town during WWII. It functions primarily as a market town for local produce growers and cash croppers. It is located on the "Highlands Highway" approximately 170 km by road from Lae...
also in the Eastern Highlands. Other nearby towns include Kundiawa
Kundiawa
Kundiawa is the capital of Simbu Province, Papua New Guinea, with a population of 8,147 . It lies along the Highlands Highway approximately halfway between Goroka and Mount Hagen, respectively the capitals of the Eastern Highlands and Western Highlands provinces.It is a relatively small town,...
in Simbu Province
Simbu Province
Simbu, also known as Chimbu, is a Highlands Region province in Papua New Guinea. The province has an area of 6,100 km² and a population of 259,703 . The capital of the province is Kundiawa...
and Mount Hagen
Mount Hagen
Mount Hagen is third largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is the capital of the Western Highlands Province and is located in the large fertile Wahgi Valley in central mainland Papua New Guinea, at an elevation of ....
in Western Highlands Province. It has a mild climate, known as a "perpetual Spring".
University of Goroka
The University of Goroka is a university in the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. It provides teaching in three faculties and in two schools...
. Several NGOs also have presences there, including Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
and Save the Children
Save the Children
Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
. The town's single largest hotel is the Bird of Paradise, owned by the Coral Seas Hotels chain. Goroka is also the home of the Asaro Mudmen
Asaro Mudmen
The Asaro Mudmen come from just outside the village of Goroka in the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea.Legend has it that the mudmen were defeated by an enemy tribe and forced to flee into the Asaro River. They waited until dusk before attempting to escape. The enemy saw them rise...
.
Coffee is a common cash crop in the area; smaller industries include trout farms, pigs, bee keeping and food gardens (broccoli, kau kau or sweet potato, carrots, ginger and peanuts are examples of produce that grow well here; nearby Bena Bena is known for its pineapples).
Events
In May Goroka hosts the PNG Coffee Festival.The renowned Goroka Show
Goroka Show
The Goroka Show is probably the best known tribal gathering and cultural event in Papua New Guinea. It is a Sing-sing held every year close to the country's Independence Day in the town of Goroka, the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province. About 100 tribes arrive to show their music, dance and...
is a three day event that takes place annually around the time of the country's Independence Day (September 16). The Goroka Show is the oldest show in Papua New Guinea, over 50 years of "keeping the spirit alive".
Goroka is the birthplace of Premier of Tasmania Lara Giddings
Lara Giddings
Larissa Tahireh "Lara" Giddings is an Australian politician and the 44th and current Premier of Tasmania since January 2011...
and rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
players Stanley Gene
Stanley Gene
Stanley Gene is a former Papua New Guinean rugby league player who currently coaches the Villeneuve Leopards in the Elite One Championship in France. He recently played for Halifax in the Co-operative Championship. He has also previously played for Hull KR, Huddersfield Giants and Bradford Bulls...
and James Segeyaro
James Segeyaro
James Segeyaro is a professional rugby league footballer for the North Queensland Cowboys of the National Rugby League...
.